Did a quick photoshoot...

[Ferrari308]

Ok, so the pics probably suck, but this is our collection so far. I thought it was kind of neat. My wife really isn't into Rolexes, but I have gotten her two.

Any tips to make my pics better?

Thoughts?



PDG

[77T]

If you use TapaTalk then your photos don’t have to be resized.


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[j.fletcher]

Nice pieces!


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[Rolexken]

I would like a tip to make the photos that good - great collection by the way ! I have tried and hate the Tapatalk layout and adverts and would like some instructions on how to get a photo from your phone onto the forum - currently it’s a combination of cropping and emailing it to myself on reduced quality - there must be a better way ??

[GONZO2LR]

camera!

[TheVTCGuy]

Yes, I have a suggestion: Send me all the Rolexes your wife doesn’t want, that will de-clutter the picture and make it much better.

[Mario3252]

Great Collection!!!

[georgew]

great collection there, and pics pretty good as well

[Ferrari308]

This was kind of an experiment. This was just my cell phone camera, but I have seen a number of people post pics of their collection and I thought they looked great, so I wanted to try my hand at it.

It was the first group shot of those I have put together - so experimental to see how the pics came out and it was fun to do. I want to try again. I may try my DSLR next time to see if I get a better field of depth - but again, I am only an amateur - not a pro by any stretch. But I like learning about it.


PDG

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Yes, I have a suggestion: Send me all the Rolexes your wife doesn’t want, that will de-clutter the picture and make it much better.

[Ferrari308]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Yes, I have a suggestion: Send me all the Rolexes your wife doesn’t want, that will de-clutter the picture and make it much better.

She isn't a fan of the 69173. It has a "barked" bracelet and case and a black onyx dial. I thought it was kind of cool and different, but apparently that was the wrong answer.

I might be able to let the DJ26 (69173) go for the right price though. - Not turning this into an ad, just saying. She loves the DJ31 - described it as the most beautiful Rolex she had ever seen (I tend to send her a lot of pics). I got the call from the AD about it and then was informed it wasn't available anymore, but I made the trip to the AD (it's a distance away from me). While we were standing there, the watch became available and we snapped it up. It's actually the only watch I have bought from an AD. It's a 278344RBR, but it's a mint green dial with the "galaxy" bezel is what they called it.


PDG

[ArtNouveau]

Originally Posted by Rolexken

I would like a tip to make the photos that good - great collection by the way ! I have tried and hate the Tapatalk layout and adverts and would like some instructions on how to get a photo from your phone onto the forum - currently it’s a combination of cropping and emailing it to myself on reduced quality - there must be a better way ??

I have an app on my Iphone called Image Size. Take the picture with your phone, downsize it to the allowed 200kb and post. Quality stays pretty good.

[CarlOver]

Suggestion for taking better photos. Look at lots of photos and make note of the ones you really like. Now dissect the photo details. How many items, what is the background, lighting. I have seen a few IG posts that show the making of a photo beginning to end. It was really fun to watch. YT probably has make vids on product photography.

Your photo, the angle of camera to watches was too much, too much/busy background and watches just thrown down. Yellow lighting does not look natural. When it is done well, it looks like someone just snapped a photo randomly but likely they spent a bit of time on layout. Lighting is a whole rabbit hole. Best to you!

[brandrea]

Nice collection

[Ferrari308]

Originally Posted by CarlOver

Suggestion for taking better photos. Look at lots of photos and make note of the ones you really like. Now dissect the photo details. How many items, what is the background, lighting. I have seen a few IG posts that show the making of a photo beginning to end. It was really fun to watch. YT probably has make vids on product photography.

Your photo, the angle of camera to watches was too much, too much/busy background and watches just thrown down. Yellow lighting does not look natural. When it is done well, it looks like someone just snapped a photo randomly but likely they spent a bit of time on layout. Lighting is a whole rabbit hole. Best to you!

Thank you!

You are right - I didn't spend a lot of time on the layout. I couldn't decide which layout I liked, but then I had the oven going off for supper and I kind of put everything away and had to go do that, so I didn't feel like it was a great effort - at least not what know I could have done. I have a cheap lighting rig, but didn't bring it in for this shoot - as I said, I didn't even use a good camera. Interesting to note on the yellow lighting - that's just what was in the room. I am going to have to look at some of the more interesting pics I have seen again.


PDG

[Ferrari308]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Nice collection

I know you don't know me - we may have had a few interactions on here, but I have seen you around here for a long time, so this comment coming from you means something to me - thank you.



PDG

[rfs]

Nice

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Ferrari308

I know you don't know me - we may have had a few interactions on here, but I have seen you around here for a long time, so this comment coming from you means something to me - thank you.







PDG

glad to know you my friend!

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[twinfo]

Nice watches.

[Rolexken]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

I have an app on my Iphone called Image Size. Take the picture with your phone, downsize it to the allowed 200kb and post. Quality stays pretty good.

Thank you that sounds exactly what I need, I’ll get the app and give it a try. 👍👍

[ltmgeller]

[Rolex2008]

Nice collection

[travisb]

Looking good!

[leica_i_see_it]

PDG - love seeing this post. As a photo nerd, always awesome to see watch people getting excited about how to best capture the hobby!

Congrats on a great collection and sweet capture of the group together.

As someone said… lighting is a rabbit hole! I can think of two ideas that won’t add any equipment / chaos for now…

1) lighting does look a bit yellow, you can very gently tone that down on the normal photos app of whatever cell phone you use. The two settings that I think help compensate yellowness from indoor lighting are: warmth and saturation. Just dial them left a tiny bit and it may make the image closer to what you were seeing!

2) to stay natural, try snapping these by a window with nice light. When you get the right angle and a bit of luck, nature does incredibly flattering work!

Composition-wise, the smaller watches being farther back creates a stronger size divergence between them. I’d try with them up front.

Lastly… I give you kudos for trying to get feedback on what I think is the HARDEST watch photography…. Collections. I struggle a lot to capture multiple watches together. Each of these pieces has their own value and story. You have all these great books and magazines. A “portrait” of each piece, closer, using the props as background will be easier in my opinion and I think you’ll get some fantastic results.

Nice work and keep at it!


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[1William]

I like your watches. I have no advise on the pictures. I struggle myself with them.

[Ferrari308]

I sincerely appreciate all of the positive and constructive feedback.

I would love to get better at photography - and watch collecting - although I am just about at the point where I have everything I REALLY want to have. Would love to get the new Pepsi and maybe a vintage Day-Date - just to cap off what I would think of has a fairly complete collection of the Rolexes I want.

Maybe next time I will pull out the light ring, try to set the smaller watches toward the front and build the shot like that. This was a first haphazard attempt that I did in less than five minutes. I kinda just wanted to have a shot of them all together as I had not done that before.

In the past I use my SLR and later my DSLR and have gotten some great pics with those. I just need to be patient and learn - which is a key word for me.

Again, I am ALWAYS welcoming feedback on any pics I take. I am always glad to make new friends as well! There aren't too many other people around me who are into watches and such - so this is my where I get my watch fix - aside from watching Nico Leonard, Britt Pierce, and Jenni Elle on YT. I like Theo and Harris and Adrian Barker on there as well.



PDG

[Hardtimes]

nice collection and pics!

[996marty]

Great looking collection

[Ferrari308]

Thanks for the feedback.

I may try again this weekend with a better light setup and take a bit more time with the placement of the watches.

I still have hopes of adding maybe 3 more watches total. I am working on a deal for another 1601 - Champagne dial. I was also thinking of adding a vintage Day-Date and maybe at some point a modern Pepsi GMT, although now that I have this 16710 maybe a CHNR would be nice and something a touch different.



PDG

[NachoNeal]

Those photos don't suck. Nice watches.